Friday, May 23, 2014

I woke up this morning feeling so blessed and inspired to do more for Atlanta through our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors. L.E.A.D.'s mission is to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city of Atlanta. Here is a glance at L.E.A.D. from January 2014.

L.E.A.D.'s Core Value for January was Stewardship

Several Ambassadors and I attended Mayor Kasim Reed's Service Day Community Cleanup at the historic Washington Park followed by his inauguration at the Atlanta Civic Center. This was important for our Ambassadors to experience so that they are empowered to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

Major League Baseball scout Lincoln Martin provided detailed scouting information to the Ambassadors so that they understand how they are being evaluated. They were also exposed to career opportunities as a professional scouts. This was important for our Ambassadors to experience so that they are empowered to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

We served as Grand Marshals for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March on Peachtree Street to Ebenezer Baptist Church. This was important for our Ambassadors to experience so that they are empowered to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

The Ambassadors did a collaborative cleanup with cadets from the United States Military Academy on L.E.A.D.'s portion of the Atlanta Beltline. This was important for our Ambassadors to experience so that they are empowered to lead and transform their city of Atlanta.

The purpose of this trip was to do a documentary on how we use the app called Dartfish Express and also to show how we as black males are making a difference for our Atlanta community.

What did you discover about yourself while on this trip?

I discovered how life is viewed in so many different ways and how sometimes things that are overwhelming can impact you at any time.

Describe the people that you interacted with while on the trip?

The people I interacted with were so much fun because they made me laugh and smile and showed me how I should relax and just be myself through anything.

What surprised you the most while on the trip?

I would have to say the thing that surprised me the most was the weather. I was prepared to work in hot dry weather but it ways cold and windy but it did not stop me from working good and doing well at it.

What was your most memorable moment on the trip?

My most memorable moment on the trip would have to be when I was hitting and they were filming me. That made all eyes on me and it felt good to see what I was doing while I was hitting. Having all eyes on me helps me in school because it makes sure that I stay focus and on task at the work at hand.

Who was the most memorable person from the trip?

The most memorable person from the trip would have to be the Oscar Award producer Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki because we both share the same first name. He was very serious about what he does and made sure he had the perfect shot for everything. He was extremely professional and he is a good new friend.

What did you learn from the trip that you can use to help L.E.A.D. carry out its mission to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city?

When big opportunities come up like this you have to stay on your toes. If you slip up, you can be sent home in the matter of seconds. Big opportunities like this can open up more doors for you and others and soon you will be able to do things like this on a consistent basis.

What are the top 3 skills that you have learned since becoming an Ambassador that helped you represent L.E.A.D. with excellence on this trip?

The first skill that I have learned since becoming a L.E.A.D. Ambassador is to listen more. If you listen more, things will become easier to do. The second skill is to ask questions. It's better to ask questions and get it wrong before making the mistake. The third skill is to be patient because things don't always come fast. It's good to wait and get all the details before starting something new.

What 3 core values did you have to use each day while on the trip?

The three core values I had to use on the trip was excellence, teamwork and stewardship.

Describe the trip in 3 words?

My description of the trip in three words would have to be wonderful, great and a blessing. It was wonderful and great because I was able to work and still have a good time and enjoy myself. It was a blessing because times like this is not a everyday thing. Many people don't get opportunities like this and I thank God that I was the one to have a chance to be in something great and share it with thousands of youth in Atlanta.

The purpose of this trip was to film how we use the Dartfish Express App to develop our baseball skills for college baseball scholarship opportunities.

Why were you chosen to attend this trip?

I was chosen to attend this trip because I have had experience using Dartfish for a while. The core values that I believe I excel in the most are Loyalty, Humility, Teamwork. This also helped me get chosen.

What did you discover about yourself while on this trip?

I discovered that I was very important in the documentary and that without myself and my teammates the documentary would not be complete.

Describe the people that you interacted with while on the trip?

We interacted with a lot of people while on the trip. The person I remember the most was a lady who stayed at the same hotel as us and spoke to us about how we should stay focused on our journey to success. Most youth males only think about what's happening now and not about their future.

What surprised you the most while on the trip?

What surprised me the most was how many people stopped us while we were walking just to ask us who we are, like we were celebrities. I do believe I am a celebrity in a way. When we step out in public people always are interested in finding out who we are and even when we work with the middle school kids they look up to us like we are stars.

What was your most memorable moment on the trip?

Going to the air port and skipping half of the bagging line because someone noticed how much we looked like a team.

Who was the most memorable person from the trip?

The most memorable person from the trip was Ms. Barlow because she stopped to talk with us at the hotel. She saw young African American men dressed nice and looking accordingly and was astonished.

What did you learn from the trip that you can use to help L.E.A.D. carry out its mission to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city?

I learned that you have to know how to always follow directions. During filming we were given direction and we had to follow them at all times.

What are the top 3 skills that you have learned since becoming an Ambassador that helped you represent L.E.A.D. with excellence on this trip?

Public Speaking Skills, following directions, Listening Skills. If you do not follow directions you can not be trusted or coached. Public speaking is also big because people would like to talk to you and have a conversation.

What 3 core values did you have to use each day while on the trip?

Loyalty, Teamwork, Excellence. We worked together a lot so that we could finish the scene. We showed excellence by finishing the documentary.

Describe the trip in 3 words?

Exposure, Opportunity, Privilege. It was a privilege because not all Ambassadors were able to go and I am grateful for being selected.

Friday, May 9, 2014

The trip to Los Angeles was great. I saw a lot of things I have never seen before and it was a great exposure opportunity. I never saw the set of a documentary and all it takes to complete a full one.

What was the purpose of the trip?

The purpose of this trip was to gain exposure and to do a documentary for Dartfish.

Why were you chosen to attend this trip?

I was chosen to attend this trip because of my attendance at school and w/L.E.A.D. activities, my good grades, and always showing respect to people. Also I was chosen to represent my fellow L.E.A.D. Ambassadors.

What did you discover about yourself while on this trip?

I discovered that coming out of high school I should know what I want to be in life. Also I discovered that I have to remain focused to be successful. I should specifically focus on getting an education first and then increasing my baseball skills.

Describe the people that you interacted with while on the trip?

The people I interacted with were awesome. They all had great personalities and helped me have a great time on this trip.

What surprised you the most while on the trip?

What surprised me the most was the time and effort that was put into this. We had to remain focused and understand what was the main purpose of being there. The main purpose for being here was to complete our goal which was to do a documentary of Dartfish. Also to gain more exposure and provide more opportunities for younger males to do the same thing that we did.

Ambassador Carlos Twine is 3rd in line shaking hands with some of the Park Pictures Production staff

What was your most memorable moment on the trip?

My most memorable moment was trying to hit left handed for the first time and the "City Walk". We were hitting left handed because using Dartfish will help you become successful with that. It breaks your swing down so that you'll see what you're doing wrong and you'll get another try after being shown what you need to change. The City Walk was basically a strip. It had places where you can sit down and eat and stores to buy things at.

Who was the most memorable person from the trip?

The most memorable person was Mr. Mercury because he provided a good time for us on and off the field. Mr. Mercury's job was a DA (directors assistant) and to basically get us to and from the places we needed to be.

What did you learn from the trip that you can use to help L.E.A.D. carry out its mission to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city?

I learned that trips like this are transforming our city. Meaning if youth males continue to do things like this it will set trends and make others want to follow in their path. A positive trend youth males should follow is to get good grades and always be successful. Not only get good grades but stay in school and join programs such as L.E.A.D.

What are the top 3 skills that you have learned since becoming an Ambassador that helped you represent L.E.A.D. with excellence on this trip?

Listening skills, being respectful, and learning how to always pay attention and stay focused were the top 3 skills that I have learned and used in L.A. These skills are important to have because if we didn't have them, we wouldn't have been as successful as we were. Since we were all paying attention, the director didn't have to keep repeating himself and being respectful is always important to have. If you're not respectful then nobody would want you around them.

What 3 core values did you have to use each day while on the trip?

Excellence, teamwork, Stewardship are the 3 core values that I used everyday in L.A. I had to use these core values everyday to make myself a better person in life. If you live by these core values then its a big chance you'll complete any future goals you have set for yourself.

Describe the trip in 3 words?Exposure, excellent, opportunity.

What opportunities do you now have after being out there?

After being out there, I think that other doors will open up in the future for L.E.A.D. and I have the opportunity to set standards for youth males. Now they can see what we did and now they will want to follow in our footsteps so they can do the same.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Ambassadors Ryan Martin, Carlos Twine, Emmanuel Wilson, Coach Neiko, Mr. David Seeney, Coach CJ and I traveled to Los Angeles, California. The weather was nice but it got a little windy. The buildings downtown looked the same as Atlanta.

What was the purpose of the trip?

The purpose of this trip is to do a documentary on an app we use called Dartfish Express.

Why were you chosen to attend this trip?

I was chosen because I am trustworthy and respectful. I abide by all our L.E.A.D. core values and I take in exposure opportunities and use them in my daily life. I was also chosen to help other boys in Atlanta because I can take the opportunity and the exposure that I'm getting and teach it to other boys so they can have the opportunities.

What did you discover about yourself while on this trip?

I discovered that I can work through adversity and that I can do new things if I try and work on it. The adversity I went through was hitting left handed for the first time and and filming in the cold weather. I overcame adversity by working on my swing from the left side and staying focused while cold to finish filming.

Describe the people that you interacted with while on the trip?

The people that I interacted with were excited to work with us. They were talented and everyone had a specific job to do on the set and they made sure that it got done. Also when we were cold they sacrificed their heat and coats to make sure we were warm all the time.

What surprised you the most while on the trip?

What surprised me the most was the multiple time times we had to film certain shots because the producer had to get that one perfect shot. I was also surprised by all the specialized cameras and the materials they used to film certain shots.

What was your most memorable moment on the trip?

My most memorable moment of the trip was me hitting left handed for the first time and I hit the ball good. It looked good on the t.v. after they recorded it.

Who was the most memorable person from the trip?

Ms. Julie our on set tutor was the most memorable person on the trip. I say this because we were suppose to be in school and she comes out of her way and brings books for us to read. She was nice, calm, friendly and a wonderful teacher.

What did you learn from the trip that you can use to help L.E.A.D. carry out its mission to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city?

I learned that you have to work through adversity at times. On Tuesday, everyone on the set was cold because of the weather in the desert but we stayed strong and focused. We finished filming and pulled it through. I also learned about making sacrifices. We were all cold but the producers bought us jackets and one of the producers Mr. Miles gave one of us his jacket and he was cold as well.

What are the top 3 skills that you have learned since becoming an Ambassador that helped you represent L.E.A.D. with excellence on this trip?

My top 3 skills that I have learned since becoming an Ambassador is being coachable, trustworthy, and being respectful. I have improved with all of these and they have helped me represent L.E.A.D. with excellence.

What 3 core values did you have to use each day while on the trip?

I used excellence, humility, and teamwork. These skills are important because without these skills you can't get the job done. You need to be excellent to get the job done. You need to stay humble and not get the big head about this opportunity. We had to work as a team to get everything done with excellence.

Describe the trip in 3 words.

Awesome because I have been to L.A. before but not for a documentary. Exposure because we are being exposed to traveling out of the state to L.A. to do a documentary and me being chosen to be exposed to this is great. Opportunity because I was chosen by Coach CJ which says that he can trust me to do whats needed to be done on this trip and him giving me the opportunity is incredible.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Myself along with L.E.A.D. Ambassadors Ryan Martin (B.E. Mays High School, Atlanta Public Schools), D'Anthony Morrow (B.E. Mays High School, Atlanta Public Schools), Emanuel Wilson (Drew Charter, Atlanta Public Schools), Carlos Twine Jr. (New Schools at Carver, Atlanta Public Schools), Coach Neiko Johnson and Videographer David Seeney (Fresh Behavior) traveled to Los Angeles, California which is the home of many celebrities especially movie stars and athletes. The weather is mild and the traffic is congested like Atlanta.

The purpose of the trip was to film a video documentary for Dartfish. We were chosen by Dartfish Worldwide Victor Bergonzoli to serve as Ambassadors for their company. I have become well trained at using their Dartfish Express App to develop hundreds of players locally, nationally and international of varying ages and skill levels including recreational players to Major League Baseball All-Stars.

Why were you chosen to attend this trip?

I was chosen to show others across the world how the Dartfish Express App has revolutionized my ability to develop baseball players with varying skill levels with accuracy and efficiency with my companies Diamond Directors and L.E.A.D.

What did you discover about yourself while on this trip?

I discovered that many people connect with my story of using baseball to access college and pursuing my childhood dream of playing professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Baseball was my ticket out of poverty. Developing baseball players allows me to be fulfilled spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally and physically. My mission in life is to be significant and to serve millions.

Describe the people that you interacted with while on the trip?

I worked with a lot of skilled people on the set. It was amazing how each person had a specific role on the production team. We had catered food to make sure that we remained strong to film for several hours throughout the day. There was a wardrobe specialist as well as a tutor on site for the Ambassadors. It was awesome! Everyone's job was important and everyone took it serious.

What surprised you the most while on the trip?

What surprised me the most while on the trip was the tutor showing up on the first day of filming to make sure that the Ambassadors were doing a minimum of 3 hours of homework each day. Park Pictures had everything covered for this trip.

What was your most memorable moment on the trip?

The most memorable moment of the trip was when the Ambassadors signed their Mizuno batting gloves for members of the production team. The Ambassadors showed a lot of class the entire trip.

Who was the most memorable person from the trip?

The most memorable person on the trip was Trina Sole. She made sure that we were picked up from the airport and arrived to each destination on time. She ensured that we were checked into the hotel and had food after each filming session. She was first class and made sure that we had a great experience.

What did you learn from the trip that you can use to help L.E.A.D. carry out its mission to empower an at risk generation to lead and transform their city?

I learned that L.E.A.D. is respected by many people across the world and that provides much needed confidence for us to move ahead. L.E.A.D. Today...Change Tomorrow. I also learned that L.E.A.D. must create a full and detailed list of activities required to provide a great experience like Parks Pictures. Filming requires so much activity by so many skilled people. The intuition of the staff was awesome. Everyone worked together and was intentional about helping the producer produce quality content. As an organization, we have over 100 events per year including practices, games, mentoring sessions, clinics, etc. We expect excellence for each event and when we fail, we must quickly adjust. At each event, everyone must know "what we are doing", "why we are doing it" and "who is doing it".

What are the top 3 skills that you have learned since becoming an Ambassador that helped you represent L.E.A.D. with excellence on this trip?

I share the role of co-founder of L.E.A.D. with my wife Kelli Stewart and my top 3 skills that I have developed are patience, networking and time management since establishing L.E.A.D. Those 3 skills allow you to be prepared to seize great opportunities.

What 3 core values did you have to use each day while on the trip?

The 3 core values that I used each day on this trip to Los Angeles were...

...excellence because we were expected to arrive on time each day at work along with being mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to provide content.

...humility because I interacted with so many people each day and showing respect creates comfort and peace for everyone.

...loyalty because Dartfish Worldwide CEO Victor Bergonzoli entrusts that the L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and I would represent his worldwide brand with excellence by being loyal to their Dartfish mission and core values.

Describe the trip in 3 words?

I describe the trip to Los Angeles as a catalyst, empowering and a game-changer.